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Two HOT Titles and a Smoking Giveaway!

Melinda T. Falgoust
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09/04/2013 02:40PM

There are those things we do unintentionally in our daily lives that can turn us into grumpy gruffs. Pull out of the driveway only to realize after a brown waterfall cascades our windshield that we left the coffee on TOP of the car. Grab our favorite pink shirt from the dryer only to remember our favorite shirt WAS white…THEN find the red sock. Leave our husband alone in the kitchen to finish the peach cobbler and suddenly wonder why you smell Mexican food…only to find out he used cumin instead of cinnamon. “Well, they both start with a ‘C’ and end with an ‘N’, DON’T they?!?”

But, then there are the happy accidents. The things that make you grin like a Manx cat in a roomful of rocking chairs (I love flipping trite clichés on their ear, don’t you?)

The happy accident of which I speak began in the children’s section of my local Barnes & Noble. I wanted dragons! (Well, I wanted BOOKS about dragons, although, seriously, who WOULDN’T want a dragon. Just call me Hagrid.)

Much to my delight, two brightly illustrated covers caught my eye almost immediately. I skimmed the text, avoided the Venti, Double-Shot, No-Foam Cappucino that was calling my name from the café, and made my purchase. It was only after I arrived back home that I realized I had purchased two delightful books from the same author – Steve Smallman. A happy accident.

Steve Smallman is an illustrator come author who has penned a delightful series of picture books that share simple lessons and present everyday situations in a fantastical and comedic way. The first book I enjoyed by this author was Too Hot to Hug (Little Tiger Press, 2011). It is an adorable story about a dragon who is trying to find his place in the world or, in this case, a family. The bright illustrations with their soft blended edges make it a visually accessible book for young children’s storytimes and keep the visual motion moving forward along with the text of the story. When things get bumpy for Crumpet (Because, of course, what ELSE would you name a dragon, right?), he and Ryan discover that with a little perseverance, everyone can discover their purpose.

The second book by Mr. Smallman is Dragon Stew (Little Tiger Press, 2010). Now, in all seriousness, raise your hands if you have heard THIS line before:

“MOM, I’m BORED!!!”

Okay, let me count...wow. I can’t count that high. It’s the phrase that can light us up faster than dragon fire because, after all, we spent exactly HOW much on gymnastics lessons, horseback riding lessons, football equipment, baseball gloves, trampolines, Barbie dolls…need I go on?

Well, I won’t go on, but the Viking in Dragon Stew go on…and on and on…about how BORED they are when suddenly, Little Loggi Longsocks suggests they go on a quest for a dragon and pulls out the recipe book for…yep, you guessed it…DRAGON STEW!!! The illustrations on each page are rich with detail, offering opportunity for little eyes to roam and discover. Young children will laugh at the bumbling antics of the silly Vikings as they defeat a squid with stinky socks and come across an even stinkier pile of…well, let’s just say fertilizer, shall we? Although I might have wished for Mr. Smallman to find another word that rhymed with “stew”, it’s sure to draw laughter from the wee folk.

Oh I loved reading your review.. it was hilarious. I am so glad you passed on the Venti.. and had this happy accident instead :)
I think the book sounds like fun. Looking forward to this *new* author's books at the library!
thanks for sharing on Kid LIt Blog Hop!
-Reshama @ StackingBooks.com